Ignition system.



G. F. KETTERING.

IGNITION SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED MAY 22', 1911.

10 5 v v Patented July 7, 1914;

2 SHEETSS'HEBT 1.

nu AL 1 W/TNESSES: INVENIOR O. F. KETTERING.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1911.

Patented July 7, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

I-VITNESSES m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. KETTERING, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE DAYTON ENGINEERING LABORATORIES CO., A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

IGNITION SYSTEM.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented July *7, 1914.

Application filed May 22, 1911. Serial No. 628,812.

for use in engines which run at high speed and therefore require a rapid succession of spark impulses, that is, a large number of sparks per minute to efficiently provide for the requisite number of explosions in the engine cylinders, whereby maximum engine efiiciency may be secured. I have particularly applied these improvements to a type of. ignition system which may be designated as the single spark type, wherein the advantages of my improvements are still more pronounced.

In the various ignition systems of the single spark type heretofore produced, both in those systems wherein the control, or actuation, of the main circuit breaker is accomplished, either by mechanical, or electrical means, it has been found that the engine efiiciency is liable to decrease after the speed thereof has increased beyond a certain point, this generally being due to the failure of the ignition system accurately to generate the requisite number of sparks, with the necessary rapidity and regularity, to cause the required number. of explosions to occur in the respective cylinders of the engme.

One of the primary objects of the present invention therefore is, to provide a single ignition system, preferably of the single spark type, which will efficiently furnish ignition for engines running at any speed, regardless of the number of explosions required per minute, in order to assure maximum engine efliciency.

Some of the parts of the apparatus used in the present invention are also shown in my copending applications filed March 12, 1910, Serial Number 548,921: filed Nov. 14, 1910, Serial Number 592,290: filed June 3, 1910, Serial Number 564,737: filed Nov. 1 1, 1910, Serial Number 592,291: but with some modifications to secure adaptability to the present improvements. These former applications show a locking-coil or relay, as it has been termed, for producing a single spark: also a distributer for distributing the spark impulses to the various cylinders of the engine.

lVhen explosive engines of the kind referred to, are operated at high speed with the ordinary spark interrupter devices, there may not be suflicient time between the successive spark impulses, for the proper depletion of magnetization of the spark interrupter and its associated devices. These and various other difliculties, attendant upon high speed, are well known to those familiar with the art, and they result in skipping or missing of the spark, and other troubles of various nature.

A further object of the present invention is therefore to provide an ignition system wherein a plurality of separate and independent contact makers or interrupters are alternately actuated to produce the necessary succession of sparks. This will permit one interrupter to be at rest when the other is in use and thereby gives a longer period of rest for each, thus permitting greater depletion of magnetism of the interrupter after its operation.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein one form of the preferred embodiment of my present invention is illustrated.

In said drawings: Figure 1 is a view mainly diagrammatic of the circuit connections and the operative relations of the principal parts of the present invention. Fig. 2,

illustrates, in a vertical sectionalized view,

the timer and distributor housing, and the associated parts thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan .view of the timer and distributer housing, with the distributer head and rotor removed, disclosing the relative arrangement and position of the contact makers and their main operating member. Fig. 4 is a detail top plan view of the rotor of the distributer, and Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the removable distributer head, disclosing particularly the arrangement of the contact plates.

Referring to the drawings it will be understood that I have illustrated one form of the present invention as embodied with an internal combustion engine of the two cycle six cylinder type, but it will be obvious that by rearranging the parts and with several slight alterations, not affecting the intent or scope of the present invention a' greater number of contact makers and their associated relays may be employed if it is desired to secure an increased number of sparks.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the different views, and particularly to the diagrammatic showing in Fig. l, the numeral 21 designates the source of electrical energy which preferably comprises a storage battery. One pole of this source of electrical energy is grounded through the wire 22 on any suitable conductor such as the engine frame, which, in the present embodiment, forms one line of the battery circuit. A wire 23 leads from the opposite pole of the battery to the primary winding 24 of the induction coil, which is provided with the usual secondary winding 25 connected in turn with the rotor of the distribu-' ter, by means of the wire 26, the construction and function of the said distributer being more fully described hereinafter. The opposite end of the induction coil has a wire 27 extending therefrom, leading to a triple position or three-point switch 28 and connecting with a terminal button 28 of conductive material, secured thereon. As shown. in Fig. 1, this switch comprises a pivotal handle 29, provided with a projection 30 of insulating material adapted to actuate the contact arm 31 to break or make the circuit contact between the said arm 31 and a normally stationary arm 32. A similar contact member 34 which is adapted to contact with the stationary arm 33 is positioned on the opposite side of said switch and is actuated by a button or projection 35 also carriedby the movable handle, butdiifering from the projection 30, inasmuch as it is constructed from conducting material, similar to terminal 28. The wire 27 has a branch wire 36 leading to the contact arm 31 from which the current is adapted to pass through the contact arms 31 and 32, when the switch handle is moved into run position, into the wire 37. This wire in turn branches, as at 38, one section 40' thereof being connected to the contact plate 39 of the contact-breaker orrelay 42, while the other branch 41 leads to, and is secured to a similar plate 44 of the relay 45. These relays are of substantially the same construc tion as the relay structure described and illustrated in my copending application filed Nov. 14, 1910, bearing Serial Number 592,290, and inasmuch as the specific structures of these relays are fully described in said copending application, only portions of the structure and operation thereof will be here described. The relay 42 comprises thepivoted armature 46 mounted on the iron bracket 47 which supports the magnet core 48, being secured thereto at its lower end, and which, in combination, with the pivoted armature, forms a closed magnetic circuit when the pivoted armature, is drawn into contact with the core 48, by the energization thereof.

Similar to the magnet structure shown in the last-named copending application it will be seen that each of the magnet cores 48 employed in the present invention, has a pair of windings 51 and 52, the windings 51 being of heavy wire of low resistance, while the windings 52 are of much finer wire and therefore of correspondingly higher resistance. The low resistance winding 51 of the relay 42 is normally connected to' the wire 37, through the branch wires 40 and 56 and contact plates 39 and 57, said plates normally being maintained in contact by means of the spring blade 58, but this connection is "intermittently broken by the movement of the pivoted armature, which is effected by the intermittent closing and opening of the main or battery circuit, through said relay core and windings, by the contact maker 65, of the timer mechanism 60. One end of the high resistance coil or winding 52, of the relay 42, runs into the wire 61, leading to the timer mechanism, while the opposite end thereof is con nected to the contact plate 34 of the contact maker of the switch 28. The windings and connections of the relay 45 are of the same identical character as those just described, with the exception that the high resistance winding connects with the contact plate 33 of the switch 28 while the low resistance winding, as well as the opposite end of the high resistance winding, is connected by means of a wire 63 with a contact maker 64 of the timer mechanism, similar to, but opposltely disposed to, the contact maker 65, which regulates or controls the flow of current through the relay 42.

The construction and arrangement of the main operating member ofthe timer contact makers 64 and 65, together with the -elements associated therewith, whereby the advance and retard of the spark is secured, will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the reference character designates the driving shaft, which is suitably connected to the engine shaft and geared to the proper ratio of movement to operate the timer in proper cycle. This driving shaft- 70 rotates a surrounding sleeve 71, which sleeve may for convenience be called 'the' distributer shaft since it carries at its upper end the timer cam 72 and also the distributing mechanism, which selects the cylinder wherein the spark is to be delivered. A collar 73 loosely surrounds the sleeve 71 and is formed with an annular groove 74, wherein the yoke arms 7 5 are loosely mounted in a suitable manner;

This yoke may be called the advance yoke since it is operated to advance or retard the tuning of the spark is effected merely by distributer by means of the wire 26, from changing the relative positions of the driving shaft 70 and the distributor sleeve 71, this being accomplished by rotating the ad- Vance yoke 75 about its pivotal shaft 77 (by means of suitable hand lever and connections). The result of thus rocking the advance yoke 75 is to move the collar 73 up or down, thus moving the cross pin 76 up or down and thereby bearing upon the walls of the spiral slot 78 to rotate the sleeve 71 into different positions relatively to the drive shaft 7 0. This at the same time, of course, changes the relative position of the timer cam 72 and advances or retards the time of make and break. The sleeve 71 carries a suitable roller bearing 80 at its top and bottom, and is formed with a supporting flange 81 at the top and is locked in position by a suitable locking nut 82, engaging the threaded bottom end thereof.

The means for distributing the spark impulses in the respective cylinders of the engine at the proper intervals will now be described. It should be understood that it is not absolutely necessary to use the dist-ributer illustrated in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, but that any good distributer may be readily used in the present invention.

The distributer shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5 is substantially the same as that shown, described and claimed in my copendin application filed June 3, 1910 bearing erial No. 564,737, and inasmuch as the detail structure of the said distributer has been fully described in said copending application only a brief and general description thereof will here be given. The secondary winding 25 of the induction coil is connected with the center terminal 90, of the which the induced electrical impulses are transmitted to the conductor vane 92 of the rotor 93 to the several contact plates 94 which in turn are electrically connected with the spark plugsof the respective cylinders, whereby as the rotor 93 of the distributer is mechanically' rotated the spring pressed button 95 of the conductor vane 92 wipes over the several contact plates 94, and as this action is timed so that it occurs simultaneously with the closing of the main circuit by either of the contact makers 64 or of the timer mechanism 60, the electrical impulses induced in the secondary coil will be selectively transmitted by the above described distributing mechanism to the spark plug within the cylinder under compression and ready to fire. I

From the above description the operation of my improved ignition system will be seen to be as follows: Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the switch, as indicated in full lines, is in the off position, this being the proper position of the switch when the combustion engine to which the system is applied is at rest. When it is desired to start the engine, it has been found very desirable to generate a continuous series of sparks in the proper engine cylinders, such as is generated by that type of ignition known as the vibrating coil system. In the present invention, when the switch is thrown to start position the contact arms 31 and 32 are closed, while the arms 34 and 33 are open, the pin 35 not yet moving the arm 34. Now supposing the timer contact maker, 65 on the left hand side in Fig. 1, is just making contact thus closing the main circuit, the flow of current fro-m the battery will be as follows: From the battery 21 the current flows through the wire 23, primary coil 24, wire 27 into the contact arm 32 thence through the contact points 32 into the arm 31, wire 37, branch wire 40 into the relay 42 passing along the contact strip 39 through the stationary strip 57; wire 56 into the primary coil 51 of the said relay 42. As soon' as the core of the relay becomes energized the armature 46 will begin to vibrate and thus a series of spark impulses will be induced into the secondary winding 25 of the induction coil, from where they will be distributed to the proper cylinders by the distributing mechanism 80. This action continues until the contact maker of the timer is mechanically operated by the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to break or open the main circuit. Now as soon as the point of the cam 72 of the main operating member in advance of the cam point which has just been described as closing the timer contact maker, on the left hand side in Fig. 1, is moved a few degrees, the contact maker, on the right hand side in Fig. 1, will be closed, whereby the flow of current will pass from the wire 37 into branch wire 41 thence through the relay 45, thus vibrating the pivoted armature of said relay. As has been explained in my copending applications, heretofore referred to, it is very desirable to simply generate a single spark for each explosion of the engine, when the engine has once been started, therefore, when the switch is thrown into run position (see Fig. 1) what is termed the relay holding coil is brought into action by the closing of the switch contact strips 33 and 34 by con-' I will flow in the same path as heretofore described, but there will be an additional circuit through the wire 27, switch handle 28, contact strip 34, wire 34 and high resistance coil 52 of the relay. This coil 52 is of much higher resistance than coil 51 so that only a sufficient amount of current passes therethrough to retain the pivoted armature, in its attracted position when it has once been attracted by the energization of the relay core in which position the said armature is retained until the timer contact maker is released so as to break or open the main circuit. The path of current through the relay and its holding coil 52, when the main operating member of timer closes the contact maker 64 will be obvious, and therefore no detail description will be given. Thus it will be seen that the cores of the relays are intermittently and alternately energized and the armatures of the respective relays are likewise intermittently and alternately vi-.

brated, so that a suflicient period of time elapses between the intermittent energization of the cores of the respective relays, to permit a substantially complete demagnetization of the cores and armatures between the successive periods of activity.

It will be understood that while I have shown and described a single embodiment of one form of the present invention, various modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of invention as set forth in the appended claims.

From all the above, it will be understood that I have provided a plurality of interrupters, with a single induction coil common thereto; and also 'I have provided broadly an arrangement of a plurality of interrupters which are operated in a certain predetermined sequence. In the case of using two interrupters, as herein specifically shown, these interrupters are alternately operated. And the successive spark impulses thus derived by alternate or sequential operation of these interrupters, are distributed to the various secondary or sparking circuits of the engine cylinders. Likewise it will be observed that the three point timer cam 72 as above described, has its points spaced. at equal angular distances, and these three-points cooperate with the contact makers 64 and 65 which are arranged diametrically opposite each other,

. that is, at 180 apart. This effects the alternate making of contact, first at 64, and then at 65 and so on, and likewise preserve even intervals of time for such contact impulses. It may also be stated that the timer mechanism 60 is geared to the same source of driving power that the distributer mechanism is geared to, and in such ratio, whereby for the successive alternate impulses ot' the timer, the distributer arm or vane moves from one contact point for one cylinder to the next adjacent contact point for the cylinder next to fire.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In an ignition system, the combination with a plurality of current interrupters; of a single induction coil; and means alternately and operatively connecting each of said interrupters with said coil during a given cycle of operation.

2. In an ignition system, the combination with an ignition circuit; of a plurality of current interrupters; and means for introducing said interrupters into said circuit in a predetermined and recurrent sequence.

3. In an ignition system, the combination with an electric circuit having a plurality of current interrupters; of a main operating member constructed to alternately actuate each of said interrupters.

4. In an ignition system, the combination with an electric circuit having a pair of current interrupters therein; of a main operating member, comprising a three-point cam constructed to alternately actuate each of said interrupters.

5. In an ignition system, the combination with an electric circuit; of a plurality of current interrupters therein; having a pivoted armature electrically connected to each of said interrupters, and included in said circuit, said circuit being common to each-of said interrupters; of a main operating member constructed to alternately actuate said interrupters, whereby the pivoted armature of the respective interrupters will be alternately operated to open and close said cir cuit.

6. In an ignition system, the combination with an electric circuit; of current interrupters included therein; an induction coil having a common electrical connection with each of said interrupters; of a main operating member constructed to actuate alternately each of said interrupters, whereby the successive impulses caused by the actuation of said interrupters will be transmitted to the induction coil.

7. In an ignition system, the combination with an electric circuit; of a plurality of current interrupters included therein; each comprising a main and holding coil; and a selecting switch constructed to cut out or in all of said holding coils, relative to the main coils, simultaneously.

8. In an ignition system, the combination with an electric circuit; of a plurality of current interrupters included therein; a main operating member comprising a cam having contact points of equal angular spacing; and contact terminals oppositely disposed and spaced substantially one hundred and eighty degrees apart, whereby contact sparking circuits-of the various cylinders of the engine; a vane -movable over said contact terminals; and a main operating member connected in common with the timer device and the vane of the distributer, whereby the vane of the distributer will be moved from one of the contact terminals to the next adjacent terminal, with each suc-v cessive impulse caused by the timer device.

10. In an ignition system, the combination with a main electrical circuit; of a plurality of current interrupters included therein, each of said interrupters comprising a main and locking coil; an independent electric circuit connected with each of said locking coils; and a switch controlling the main and independent electric circuits whereby said independent circuits and the respective locking coils connected therewith may be opened and closed; and a timer device for operating the current interrupters in a predetermined and recurrent sequence. r n

"11.In an ignition system, the combination with an ignition circuitincluding a single induction coil; of a plurality of current 1n-' terrupters; and means for automatically introduclng each of said interrupters into circuit with said induction coil at different times; 1

12. In an ignition system, the combination cuit connections; of a plurality of current interrupters, one of which is located in each of said branch circuits; a main operating member comprising a cam having lobes of equal angular spacing; and a plurality of contact terminals opened and closed in a recurrent sequence by said cam, whereby-said interrupters will be alternately brought into operation;

13. In an ignition system, the combination with an ignition circuit; of a selective switch therefor, having three positions, an open position, a starting position, and a running position, the ignition system giving a different type of spark when said switch is in its starting position from that when it is in its running position; a plurality of interrupt'ers connected to said ignition circuit and operable by said switch to give difierent types of ignition; and means for automatically bringing each of said interrupters into operation alternately when the said switch is in either its starting or running position.

14. In an ignition system, the combination with a primary circuit including a single induction coil; of a plurality of electrically actuated current interrupters included in said circuitfand means for introducing said interrupters into said circuit in a recurrent sequence. f a

15. In an ignition system, the combinatlon with a plurality of current interrupters having the functions of a single interrupter; with a single induction coil; and means alternately connecting each of said interrupters with said coil during a given cycle of operation. I

In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature in the presence of two subscriblng w tnesses.

CHARLES F." KETTERING. Witnesses:

' F. B.'MACNAB,

Jon MCDONALD. 

